Sony recently declared plans to halt production of the AirPeak S1 drone by next year. This move comes three years subsequent to the tech giant beginning to accept orders for this advanced aerial device.

The announcement, made on Sony’s Japanese website, states that the sale of the drone and the majority of its associated products will cease at the culmination of March 2025. However, it was also indicated that battery packs for the AirPeak will remain accessible until March 2026, and facilities for repairs and software upkeep will be provided until March 2030’s conclusion.

Sony attributed this decision to “modifications in the business landscape,” which seemingly implies that the drone was not achieving the desired sales figures.

In a bold step, Sony introduced the AirPeak S1 in 2021, aiming at professional filmmakers and photographers. The drone was designed to be compatible with Sony’s high-end mirrorless cameras, a feature that set a high price tag of $9,000 on the aerial device. This steep cost may have contributed to its downfall.

The AirPeak S1 was initially acclaimed for its impressive maximum speed of 55 mph, its dual-operation mode permitting one individual to pilot the drone while another controls the camera, and its stability in winds up to 44.7 mph. This capability allowed filmmakers to capture stable footage under difficult conditions.

However, the drone did not escape criticism. PetaPixel, a specialist photography website, lambasted the AirPeak S1 for its convoluted set-up procedure, underwhelming performance, camera feed problems, and app restrictions, branding it a “rare, complete failure for Sony.”

Despite Sony’s efforts to enhance the drone through software updates, the improvements were insufficient to salvage the product. Currently, Sony does not have any other drones in their extensive product range, and it appears this might remain the case for the foreseeable future.